For me it would be Jasminum sambac 'Belle of India'.
Maid of Orleans was my first jasmine I grew so sambacs definitely have sentimental value but Belle has a very strong sweet fragrance that wafts if you have enough blooms open at once.
It's not as tough as Maid though and requires more heat but if you could provide that I don't think you'd have any issues.
Mine has overwintered down in the basement with no issues for 3 years or so.

when I moved I only took one jasmine with me, that is Mali Pikul simply because I find the flowers most charming and its not so leggy as others. Close second favorite would be Grand Duke for its wafting power and rose-like flowers, but I dislike it for being too leggy.

Over all I've tried 6 different type of sambac so far. Of those, Maid of Orleans has my sentimental vote, but I like Belle of India the most because of its strong scent and long(er) lasting blooms. I will not forget how strong its scent was last Summer during our heat wave. It was an incredible experience to smell it on a hot humid night. I'm excited to see how Mysore Mulli will be like. :)

Just reading your posts makes me imagine the snowstorm outdoors as a whirlwind of jasmine petals
where I can sense the sweet scent of jasmine permeating through the window and engulfing us with heavenly bliss....

True-blue, I have actually dreamed up whole songs in my head..I just forget to write them down when I awake...

I also love different varieties because they flower different times of the year...It's funny, but I am one of those that likes doubles of teh same plant in case one dissapoints me and others in case one is out of the flowering season...That explains why I have over 25 different varieties of Cattalya's and orchids, several different citrus, and about 4 different Jasmine but very little room for more.

Mike those unwritten songs are those which help us during tough times.
I understand the idea of buying doubles. Actually that's the ideal way to appraise a plant.

I understand and appreciate the idea of having different blooms at different times, but more so in a garden context, i.e. spring bulbs, roses, clematis and so on. But let's say, indoors with our long winters and lack of "ideal" space, I don't want a plant/plants, which may flower for 2 weeks in the summer and the flowers are so so.

That brings me to the reason behind my questions. somewhere I read that Mysore mulli is the ideal jasmine, that under right conditions it's an everblooming plant. That it can flower during autumn and winter. Have any of you experienced that?

I think if you can give any sambac jasmines enough heat and light during the winter they will be everbloomers.
Mysore Mulli is awesome. Hoping to decide this summer which I prefer more, Belle or Mysore but I no doubt will keep both since variety is the spice of life. :)
Course now I really want Mali pikul as well. Laugh.

Here is my newly acquired Mysore Mulli everyone:
A young starter but it's looking pretty healthy. I cannot wait to see how it'll do this Summer. I went ahead and ordered a Plore Plena from Logee's today. Lol. And don't laugh, now I want to get a Maids of Orlean again. Logees and its 20% off tempted me into it ;)

true-blue thanks for the link:) i will give them ago with Bella and maybe they might be able to find me beronia megastigma! well it does say "We welcome any specific enquiry or specialist request for any particular species of plant"
And good luck with your Mysore Mulli kemistry :)

Hooray for Mysore! Though I must say I was hoping your plant would be bigger. :)

My Fudingzhu Osmanthus is scraggly and ugly but it is flowering though the scent is not as strong as I'd like it to be. ;)

And of course I keep looking at Mali Pikul!
Ugh. I'm so sick. We went to the Asian grocery in OKC where I found my GDS and I saw some jasmine incense with pictures of what looked like Mali Pikul on the label so of course that made me want it even more. Laugh.

I think it's hardy to 5 degrees F. It can get colder than that where we are and of course the weather is becoming more and more extreme but who knows?
I could try to find a protected spot for it but I doubt it would make it.
I guess I'll see come spring which is this week! Woo hoo! :)

Mine thrive in the 5:1:1 mix outside since outside they require more moisture however my rooted cuttings are doing better in the gritty mix since they are inside mostly under lights and the medium stays moist but not wet which they hate so it depends on where you're growing them. :)
I'm sure they'd do fine in the gritty mix outside however I would have to water probably 3 times a day in our heat!

I know. I actually wear a mask and eye protection glass when I sift the bark.
I have a 1/4" sieve. What falls through is for the gritty mix, what stays is for 5-1-1. I just wanted to make sure if both mixes work well with jasmines. From what you say both are well....

It's hard to decide what to get when it's based on other people's noses!

But thanks to your feedback, I've decided to go with a medium size Belle of India (8"pot). At least it's better than my poor old Jasmine sambac sp that grew two leaves, last year. (one more than Mike's!)

I'm also thinking of getting a dwarf Murraya, thanks to Kemistry :-) It seems a perfect plant for me, as it is small, every blooming (more or less) and it wafts.

And if I can find a source for Chloranthus spicatus it will be perfect.

True-blue ,I love these true jasmine varieties. My experience is based on growing these in zone 7a.

jasmine sambac - Easy to maintain, blooms profusely, fragrance wafts when it has lot of blooms on plants. But if you get 1-2 blooms indoors you can still smell it... hard to kill it.

J.grandduke - easy to maintain, does not bloom much but when in bloom, strong fragrance.

J.belle of india - love the fragrance, easy to maintain, blooms more as it ages. needs more attention than the above 2 varieties

J.grandduke supreme - easy to maintain, strong growth than regular grandduke, does bloom more as the plant matures. Blooms open fully unlike regular granduke and the fragrance is strong and it does waft.

Even we are in low desert, it is super easy to grow. It has strong fragrance, showy and beautiful flowers. If plants get frost in winter, we cut stems way down. Feed water and miracle grow fert., then they grow right back in spring, stronger and more beautiful.

Thanks azmom, it's interesting to see how the same variety reacts to different environments. However, mine, is hot and humid in summer and extremely cold in winter, which translate into spending most of the time indoors from September till June.....

Hello true-blue, I spent many years in subtropical climate, hot and humid almost year around. I recall Grand Dukes grew like weeds in the area. It is why I have been very surprised that Grand Dukes are so easy to care in our desert environment.

I wish we have higher humidity in our desert air, it would help wafting fragrance....

I finally found a source for the belle of India.
However this is the photo he sent me with this quote: On our web site, the ones with long petals are listed as Maid of Orleans. But other web sites lists this flower as 'Belle of India'. So which one is the one on the photo ?

It's easier to tell from a flower bud if it's 'Belle of India' or not.
The buds are elongated.
I would go for the one with the long petals but I'm sure others will chime in.
Congrats on finally finding a source! :)

Hooray! Congrats!
It's hard to say since sambac jasmines have such variable buds and flowers but I'll go with yes.
Here's a pic of two buds on my largest Belle.
Has it bloomed yet? Do you like the scent?
My friend in OKC found the scent too cloying when she stuck her nose into it but agreed it's a great wafter which I know you love. ;)

Thanks Robert. It bloomed yesterday, in the middle of the heavy rain we've been having. It had the all the visual attributes of belle. The graceful teardrop petals, which are so dainty. I'm really happy that I listened to you and the other guys who recommended it.

I simply loved the scent of that single bloom. It was clean, strong yet sort of gentle. Very balanced. It's still on, if I get around to it, I'll take a pic :-).

There are lots of other buds forming, so, I'll post later on the wafting, as I need more and warmer temps for that.

I got a flower today! I was comparing the photo with bunti's excellent and I don't think mine is Belle of India. It looks more like Mysore Mulli. It doesn't look like Belle at all. What do you guys think?

I'm no sambac expert so I'll leave it for others to decide. ;)
I did snap some flowers and buds from my Mysore for you to compare yours to.
I know Mysore has hairier stems than Belle so that might help you.
Does your jasmine have mold on it? What are the black spots on the leaves and the flower bud?
You might want to take a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or some Neem oil to it. :)

Yeah, Robert you gave me a fright! I was in the garden the moment I saw your message with swabs and alcohol and what not, Lol. I sighed in relief when it was dirt only (sigh). Better be safe than sorry.

I was checking your photo again and my Jasmines buds have nothing to do with yours Robert. Yours are plump and roundish, while mine are elongated. I'm looking forward to see multiple flowers open :-)

Please help me choose 2 out of Belle, Mysore mulli and J. Molle.... I wish to plant in container and I prefer a smaller, bushy plant with more flowers. Also with respect to fragrance, I'd like to know the difference in quality and strength.
Thanks